An Licensed Practical Nurse, in most parts of the United States and Canada, is a registered nurse who takes care of those who are either sick, injured, disabled, or convalescent. Some States such as New York have a Registered Nurse System that is not affiliated with a hospital system. The nursing license that an LPN must have is called RN-N. Licensed practical nurses (LPN) generally hold two licenses.
To enroll in a nursing program at a hospital in New York you will need to have passed all state requirements. You can contact the hospital to find out what requirements you must fulfill in order to complete your training and get your license. In addition to passing the necessary licensing exams, you will need to successfully complete a certified nursing program and complete a state board exam. Completing the exam and getting your license take about 2 years. To be an LPN, you must also complete a minimum of 200 hours of supervised clinical practice in an LPN training program.
Becoming an LPN in a new state requires that you first obtain a license in the state where you plan to practice nursing. Visit your local nursing board to find out the necessary rules and regulations that you will need to abide by while working in a particular state. You will find that most states have a department of nursing that defines many of the rules and regulations that govern the practice of nursing. You can contact this department for information on the licensing requirements for the state you are moving to. Once you move to a new state you must notify your current employer that you have completed your nursing program and wish to take the licensing exam in your new state.
Becoming an LPN takes about two years on average, depending on the state board you study in and your experience as a registered nurse. You should expect to spend three to four years studying to become an LPN. Four years is usually the time frame between your graduation from high school and the start of your bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you plan on being a Licensed Practical Nurse for a long time you may want to consider earning your Associate’s degree while you are still in high school. Many students take this approach and then go on to earn their Bachelor’s degree while still working towards becoming a Registered Nurse.
Once you have completed the required courses in order to be licensed as an LPN, you will attend a nursing care training program. At this point, you should be able to get financial aid to pay for the course, depending on your school’s budget. You will have to successfully complete the course in order to get your license as an LPN. The training that you complete will prepare you for positions in a variety of health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, physicians’ offices and more.
You can find job opportunities in many different areas once you have your LPN degree. If you are looking to get a job in a hospital setting, you can counsel patients who need help with eating, bathing, and exercising. Some patients may also need to stay overnight at a nursing home or other facility. In some situations, you can work directly with doctors or other medical staff in order to help provide quality care to those in need. Depending on your field of study, you may even have the opportunity to go abroad and work in different countries.